Race Weekend Central

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Hamlin Goes All in for Vegas Win

Denny Hamlin leads a pack of NASCAR race cars in the 2021 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, September 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joe Gibbs Racing driver clinches spot in Round of Eight With 30 races in the books, the championship is in sight and we have a good idea who will probably be fighting for it at Phoenix. But it takes so much going right and not just piling up stats. Kyle Larson essentially rolled snake eyes …

Read more

Thinkin’ Out Loud: Las Vegas NASCAR Playoff Race

2021 Cup Las Vegas Pack Racing Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

What happened? Denny Hamlin won the South Point 400 at Las Vegas on Sunday night (Sept. 26) after leading a race-high 137 laps, including the final 39. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five finishers. "Vegas Baby!" ? Take a look at @dennyhamlin's final lap to win at …

Read more

Denny Hamlin Dominates Las Vegas, Wins 1st Race in Sin City

2021 Cup Las Vegas Denny Hamlin, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Burnout (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

The mayhem of Bristol in mid-September was followed by a very calm, near-serene race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Denny Hamlin won stage two and cruised to the race win ahead of Chase Elliott, securing the No. 11 a spot in the Round of 8. With his second win of the season, Hamlin can …

Read more

Fire on Fridays: NASCAR Tires ‘Cutting’ Fantastic Finishes Short

2021 Bristol Ii Cup Aric Almirola Crash Nkp

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The big topic coming out of NASCAR’s weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway was the feud between NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott. But whether Harvick was in the wrong or Elliott was in the wrong doesn’t really matter. Because neither driver was the true culprit of the incident. No, the true …

Read more

Friday Faceoff: Would a Move to Streaming Benefit NASCAR?

Martin Truex Jr leads a pack of NASCAR Cup cars at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Streaming could play a larger role in the next NASCAR TV deal. Would the sport benefit from such a move? Dalton Hopkins: Streaming live races could create a cause and effect that gets rid of NASCAR’s controversial stage racing format. It’s a steep slope, but hear me out. With streaming, there’s the benefit of having no …

Read more

Bristol Scuffle Headlines New Round of NASCAR Playoff Unpredictability

Kevin Harvick fights with Chase Elliott at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

It’s been a while since the NASCAR Cup Series has had the makings of a big feud, hasn’t it? Let alone the playoffs, it’s been a quiet past couple years as a whole for the Cup Series. In fairness, drivers couldn’t exactly get near one another in 2020 (Noah Gragson and Harrison Burton would beg …

Read more

Frontstretch 5: Feuds That Could Brew Again in NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch

(Photo: Zach Catanzareti)

This past weekend’s events at Bristol Motor Speedway brought out the best of moods for spectators and the worst of moods for the drivers. New feuds were born and they all may be something for fans to keep an eye on as these playoffs continue. Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick’s memorable post-race scrum at Bristol …

Read more

Did You Notice?: Where the Line Is on NASCAR Privacy? What Should Go Public?

Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott at Bristl

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Did You Notice? … The raging debate on NASCAR privacy left over from Bristol Motor Speedway? The post-race altercation between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick turned sour when they discovered a quiet place in the garage area was hard to come by. No one disagrees the first part of their argument should have been covered from …

Read more

NASCAR Mailbox: Should Kevin Harvick Have Taken Helmet Off To Face Chase Elliott?

2021 Bristol Ii Cup Angry Kevin Harvick Jared C Tilton Getty

(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Why didn’t Kevin Harvick take his NASCAR helmet off when he went to confront Chase Elliott? Another unwritten rule broken. – Daniel T., Johnson City, Tenn. This has officially become the stupidest argument of all time. Who the hell cares whether or not a driver takes their helmet off during a confrontation? Don’t give me …

Read more

5 Points to Ponder: Sorry We Took You for Granted, Bristol

Kevin Harvick fights with Chase Elliott at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Did we all just fall in love with racing at Bristol again? It’s probably not fair to say NASCAR fans in general had soured on Bristol Motor Speedway. There’s always a strong outcry of “more short track races” whenever thought pieces are concocted on how to “fix” the Cup Series schedule, and it’s hard …

Read more

Couch Potato Tuesday: NBCSN Gets Excellent Racing and an Argument at Bristol

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson make contact in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, September 2021 televised on NBCSN. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway is an interesting place. Hard racing, wrecking, loud noises and shenanigans showcased this weekend on NBCSN come to mind every time it’s mentioned. I have no doubt that you can think of more. Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race was something else. Fans of The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck have voted …

Read more

NASCAR Stat Sheet: Kyle Larson’s Pick-Six Intercepts Potential Harvick Win

A pack, including Kyle Larson, of NASCAR Cup Series drivers racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, September 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Larson Headlines Bristol Weekend Renaissance Bristol Motor Speedway has a rich history of, shall we say, drivers seeing things from a different perspective. The track marketed these dust-ups with remarkable success and became a fan favorite for the same reason crowds throughout history loved the guillotine: It was a macabre spectacle. The blade had dulled …

Read more